Wednesday, 2 November 2016

A 59-YEAR-OLD woman from Silobela was burnt to death while fighting a veld fire which was spreading towards her homestead.

Midlands Police Spokesperson Inspector Joel Goko confirmed the incident. “I can confirm that we are investigating a sudden death case whereby Grace Matembedza of Desvirgis Farm, Silobela died on Saturday when she was trying to put out a veld fire which was spreading towards her homestead,” said Insp Goko.

“At around 3PM the deceased and her mother in-law Lucia Gumbo were sitting in the shade at their homestead when they saw a veld fire approaching their homestead from the side of Mazise farm. They resolved to go and put the fire out before it could spread to their area,” said Insp Goko.

He said the two women were using wet tree branches and buckets of water in an attempt to stop the fire from spreading.

“Gumbo shouted to Matembedza that they should go back home before they were trapped by the veld fire. By the time the fire had blocked the area around the gate making it difficult for the deceased to pass through and she was trapped,” he said.

The granny’s death comes three weeks after a two year old boy was burnt to death when he had been left alone sleeping at home in Gokwe.

A veldfire approached their homestead and consumed a bedroom hut in which he was sleeping, reducing his body to ashes. chronicle